Air turbine



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,120

P. F. KMBALL AIR TURBINE Filed June 1. 192s 2 sheets-sheet' 1 as" f M i, l t

/ l U1 1l l I ll W 514110 nto@ P. F. KIMBALL AIR TURBINE Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,120

Filed June l, 1925 2 Sheets-Shea; 2

(g1/wanton rali Patented lieb. lll,

enna-Y n. meinem., or DETROIT, momenti.

.AIR TURBINE.

Application led June 1, 1925. Serial No.V 34,254.

The inventionrelatesto air turbines el' that type in which the action of external air currents will simultaneously revolve theV turbine and eject air from within the saine.` lt is the object of the invention to simplify the construction and to increase the eiliciency thereol and to this e d the invention consists in various 'teaiiures as hereinafter set forth.

ln the drawings: i

Figure l is a side elevation off a turbine.

Figure 2 a vertical central section therethrough.

Figure 5l a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure Q.

is a base or ventilator ilue at the upper end of which. my improved turbine is applied. ll is a spider within the base i'or supporting` a central. thrust bearing;- C for a vertical spindle D. Ilhe upper end ci this spindle is journaled in a bearing;n E which is carried by a pluot segmental trame bars lo" attached at their lower ends to the base The spindle D has mounted thcreon'the inverted cone G and to the upper end or this cone are at" tached spiral blades l-l `which together form a spheroidal rotor or body. 'The lower ends ot the blades areattached to a ring; or band l which is of a `diameter suiliciently in exu cess ci that ot' the base fr to provide adequate running; clearance. This band also overlaps base iffand is connected by the tie rods il 's a central anchor v4plate l supported on the shoulder of a hub member l. This hub is secured to the spindle D by a set screw l and Jforms the support of the lower end ot the cone G., ll is-a central ring or band secured to the blades. Y

il? ith the construction as thus far described, air currents flowing across the turbine will operate differentially on the diametrically opposite sides thereof, the blades on one side catching the air current and being propelled thereby to revolve the rotor. Each revolution of the rotor produces a partial vacuum,

in the wake ot the blades with the result that air from within the rotor is ejected outward. rllliis in turn causes an upward draft through the base A which be used either for increasingthe draft of the flue or for ventilating1 inducing; air circulation or other similar purpose. The inverted cone assists in this ell'ect by detlectinu' and ejecting the ascend-1 ing' air current radially outward.

To increase the elhciency of the construc 'have within the rotor alilixed to the cone G a series of spiral concave 1 vice may be further increased by reducing rictional losses to the minimum and this l have accomplished first by supporting the spindle D on a point bearing and second byV rnaintaininpV both this bearing and the upper bearing well lubricated at all times. The point bearing; is preferably formed by a hardcned insert N secured to the lower end oit the spindle which rests in a conical cup t) in the bearing- C. Surromidinp` these parts is an upwardly extendingV cylindrical housing P mounted on the spindle and. connected with a tube Q, which extends outward through one wall of the staclr providing` means for the insertion ot lubricant into the bearing. AAn annular housingyl depending from the anchor plate K overlaps but clears the housing P. At the upper end the bearing` E -is provided with cylindrical recess intowhich the upper end of the spindle projects, dlehaving a spherical head Stor loosely litting` said recess. `Below this spherical portion the spindle `tlares outward su'liiciently to engage with the lower endet the bearine' E in .case there is any lifting of the spindle. ialve controlled fittings 'l are preferably attached to the upper bearing; and to the external end of the tube Q so that lubricant under pressure may be injected therein and into the lubricant containing cups.

ln operation a very slight wind pressure is sufficient to revolve the rotor and at sullicient velocity to create a suction on all sides thereof. This, as previously stated,Will eject the air from within the rotor while the spiral blades M revolving with the rotor will litt, deflect and eject air trom the stack. The only f'lrictional contacts are, first the point bearing.

N at the lower end of the spindle and the ball S engaging the cylindrical bearing E both ol3 these parts being well lubricated. rlfhese parts are also the only parts subject to wear and by forming' them of hardened metal they can be given a long length of lite.

To prevent the entrance of rain through the. spaces between the blades, the inner edges of the latter re 'formed' with out ardly e *tendinn; ilangj These are ins .nt to rially reduce-the open area but serve to inter- Y rupt any inward passage of water and to defleet it into the outwardly directed air current. Y Y* tion of air has a slightliftingeifect on the rotor this willV raise the spindle D until the flaring portionS thereof contacts with the bearing E increasing theifrictional resistance andthereby slowing the rotation ot the rotor.

WhatI claim as iny'inventionl is: f

l. In an airturbinetheV combination 'with a series of spaced spiral. blades forming aV spheroidal rotorand an inverted cone Yare ranged centrally within said rotoryof one or morespiralvanes adjacent to said conc for cooperating with said blades in the lifting and ejectingof air,

- 2. InY an air turbine thecoinbination with a" series'ot' spaced spirally arranged blades together forming'a spheroldal rotor adapt` ed to be=revolvedfby external an' currents .and ,slightly liiftedv by excessire wind Veloci? ftles, 'of a spindle having a point bearing at itsV lower end forming an'v anti-friction supporti-for thefload, a bearing 'for therupper endof said, spindle and a conical portion on l Said spindle :forengaging said bearing onth'e the-loWer extremity oipsaid 'cone for supfVIV porting the load and abearing at'theuppeil end only of. said rotor for holding the saine In caee of extreme Wind Velocitiesit is `de` -sirable to controlthe rotation of the roten This is automatically accomplished by the construct-ionl described. Inasmuch asthe ej ecfrom lateral delectionwhile preinitting verticallifting thereof;

4. In an air turbine, the combination of` a seriesl of spaced vspiral blades forming a spheroidal rotor7 an inverted cone arranged `centrally within said rotor, a point bearing depending from the lower extremity of said cone for supporting the load, a ball at the upper end ofsaid rotor and a cylindrical bearing surrounding said ball and holding Iv the saine roi'n lateral'inoveinentrwhile permitting vertical lifting otsaid rotor.

5. Inan air turbine the combinationV of aV seriesof spaced spiral bladesY forming :a

spheroidal rotor,v aninverted ycone arranged centrally within said rotor-,ia point bearing'.`

depending from the'lower extremity ,Osaid `cone for supporting the load, Va bearing at the .upper end of said rotor for holding .the

same from lateral deiec'tion while permitting lvertical lifting thereof and cooperating surfaces on said bearingandjrotor for en gagging upon the lifting of the rotor to forni a brake. Y Y' j 'Y 6. In 'anfair turbine theV coinbination'ot a series of spaced spiralV bladeslforrning a spheroidal rotor, an inverted cone arranged j centrally Within said rotor, a vpoint bearing depending from the lower extremity of Said cone for supporting theload, a'sliaftp ro V ject-ing upward `from said rotor and pro- Vvided with a spherical end portion and `a conical portion,V a vbearing surrounding the spherical end portion vo1 said shaft and holding` Vthe samey from ulateral vinoveinent while permitting vertical lifting thereof, Y

and a conical"faceonsaid bearing torengag.`

ingfthe conical portion of said Shaft upon the lifting of the latter to forni a. brake.

Intestirnony vwhereof I ainfiny Signature. 

